SOC101YSOC101Y

Introduction to SociologyIntroduction to SociologyProfessor Robert BrymProfessor Robert Brym

Lecture #19Lecture #19Sociology of the EnvironmentSociology of the Environment

20 March 1320 March 13

Important TermsImportant Terms

Technology is often defined as the application of scientific principles to the improvement of human life.

Normal accidents are mishaps that occur because the very complexity of modern technologies ensures they will inevitably fail, though in unpredictable ways.

A risk society is a social system in which technology distributes danger and advantage among all social groups, although some are more exposed than others are.

Global Warming and Polar IceGlobal Warming and Polar Ice

Heat-trapping gases (C02, CH4, etc.)

Heat-trapping gases (C02, CH4, etc.)

1. Heat-trapping gases produced mainly by human activity collect in the atmosphere (CO2 [carbon dioxide], CH4

[methane], etc.)

Ice WaterTundra

(1) gases fromburning fossilfuels, etc., releasedinto atmosphere

(3)

(4)

(5)(2)

2. More heat enters the atmosphere than escapes because some of it is absorbed and some of it is reflected back by the blanket of heat-trapping gases.3. Heat melts ice, creating water and revealing tundra.

4. Tundra releases CH4, a more effective heat-trapping gas than CO2.5. Water reflects less heat than ice does because it’s darker than ice, speeding up global warming.

(4)

Annual Mean Global Surface Air Annual Mean Global Surface Air Temperature and Atmospheric Temperature and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration, Carbon Dioxide Concentration,

1880-20091880-2009

Note: Pre-1959 carbon dioxide concentration estimates come from intermittent Antarctic ice core measurements. Post-1958 carbon dioxide concentration estimates are based on continuous atmospheric measurements from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.

Mean

tem

pera

ture

in

C

0

100

200

300

400

500

13

13.2

13.4

13.6

13.8

14

14.2

14.4

14.6

14.818

80

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

CO

2 in

parts p

er m

illion

by v

olu

me

Year

Safe upper limit: 350 ppm

Global Warming, 1880-2012Global Warming, 1880-2012

BIG VERSIONhttp://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004000/

a004030/2012_GISSTEMP_update_datescolorbarcentered.mp4

or

SMALL VERSIONhttp://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004000/

a004030/2012GISStemp_datescolorbarcentered.m4v

As early as 2050, there will As early as 2050, there will be no summer sea ice in be no summer sea ice in

the Arcticthe Arctic

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/01/science/20071002_ARCTIC_GRAPHIC.html?th&emc=th#

Ocean AcidificationOcean Acidification The high level of CO2 in the atmosphere is partly absorbed by the oceans, causing them to acidify (lowering pH due to the formation of carbonic acid) faster than at any point in the past 300 million years. 56 million years ago, ocean pH fell by .01 unit per century. Now, ocean pH is falling by .1 unit per century. Coral reefs, oysters, salmon, and other species are threatened by ocean acidification.

Worldwide Insured Losses Due Worldwide Insured Losses Due to “Natural” and Human to “Natural” and Human Catastrophes, 1970-2009 (in Catastrophes, 1970-2009 (in 2005 $US billions)2005 $US billions)$US billions

Global Fossil Fuel Global Fossil Fuel Reserves and the 2Reserves and the 2"" C C

Carbon BudgetCarbon Budget

Oil: 22% Gas: 13%

284 billion tons used by 2011

These calculations exclude heat-trapping gases others than carbon dioxide, such as methane.

Environmental issues become Environmental issues become social problems when…social problems when…

1. policy-oriented scientists, the environmental movement, the mass media, and respected organizations discover and promote the issues;

2. people connect real-life events to the information learned from these groups; and

3. scientists, industrial interests, and politicians who dispute the existence of environmental threats must fail to convince the public that the threat is illusory and human intervention is unnecessary.

0

2

4

6

0 20 40 60 80

Aboriginals as percent of population

Northwest Territories

Yukon

Alberta Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Total particulate matter, short tons per capita

Environmental racism is the Environmental racism is the tendency to heap environmental tendency to heap environmental dangers on the disadvantaged.dangers on the disadvantaged.

Fort Chipewyan: Fort Chipewyan: 250 km. downstream250 km. downstreamalong the Athabasca along the Athabasca River from the River from the industrial centre of industrial centre of the Alberta tar sandsthe Alberta tar sands

Air Pollution and Poverty Air Pollution and Poverty in Toronto Neighbourhoodsin Toronto Neighbourhoods

Trucks in ChinaTrucks in China

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/12/08/world/asia/choking_on_growth_7.html#story4

Going for a walk in Tiananmen Going for a walk in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, 21 January Square, Beijing, 21 January

20132013

Sixteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in China. Air quality in Beijing deteriorated beyond World Health Organization (WHO) safe limits every day in January 2013. Official measurements of fine airborne particulates (PM2.5) that pose the largest health risks rose to 993 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing on 12 January 2013, compared with WHO guidelines of no more than 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

The Nano by Tata Motors, The Nano by Tata Motors, MumbaiMumbai

CAD $2,804.25 + tax (20 Feb CAD $2,804.25 + tax (20 Feb 2013)2013)

Country Percent of global CO2 emissions (A)

Share of world population (B)

Index of irresponsibility (A/B)

China 23.71 19.4 1.2USA 17.91 4.6 3.9India 5.47 17.1 0.3Russia 5.28 2.1 2.5Japan 3.77 1.9 2.0Germany 2.59 1.2 2.2Iran 1.84 1.1 1.7Canada 1.80 0.5 3.6South Korea 1.78 0.7 2.5UK 1.61 0.9 1.8

Top Carbon Dioxide Emitters, Top Carbon Dioxide Emitters, 20112011

Price signals are imperfect. Political pressure is needed. The pace of change is too slow.

Why the market and high technology Why the market and high technology can’t solve the problems of can’t solve the problems of environmental degradation on their environmental degradation on their own:own:

$US

Renewable Resources, World,Renewable Resources, World,Percent Decrease, 1990-2010Percent Decrease, 1990-2010

fishcatch

irrigableland

crop land rangeland,pasture

forests

Percent decrease

What needs to be done nowWhat needs to be done now Reduce consumption of just about

everything by people in rich countries. Increase investment in energy-saving

technologies and environmental cleanup. Subsidize environmentally friendly

industrialization in developing countries. Renew commitment to voluntary efforts,

new laws and enforcement bodies to ensure compliance.

Raise taxes. Carefully assess risks associated with

biotechnology projects and consult public before such projects go forward.

Share profits from genetic engineering with donors of genetic material.

Preconditions for actionPreconditions for action

Awareness of the gravity of the environmental problem

Belief in the capacity of people and their governments to solve the problem

Willingness to make substantial economic sacrifices to get the job done.

Environmental Practices, Environmental Practices, Canada, 1994Canada, 1994

83

71

42

21

0

20

40

60

80

100

Recycles paper,glassRegularly lowershome tempUses low-flowshower headDoes not driveto work

Percent